July Adventure: Where the Weeds are Now Growing Free

[lifeaftr_mods]

NEW ISLAND: UMUI

Who: Everyone!
What: Umui appears, and a new adventure begins
When: July 10th and onward
Where: Umui
Warnings: Tag as you go!

'Cause the Dirt is Up to My Eyes
As of July 10th, the mana pools on Ensō and its islets will now allow for travel to the new island of Umui.

Travelers will arrive on a mana pool situated on the C1 square. The thick crops of flowers spring freely across the lush, grassy landscape, clustered in dense knots. The variety behind these growths seems profoundly limited: it is as though each flower has only sprouted around others of its kind, mingling solely at the edges. A large building looms in the corner of the region, a twisting, unfurling mass of piping and a half-crumbled metallic shine.

Whatever lays inside, or beyond the island's limits, is for you to discover for yourself.

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Welcome to the new island of Umui! As the island is now accessible, feel free to begin preparations and explorations in this log, or create new ones of your own! For further information in regards to the island, or plotting, the following links may prove handy:

[ ♆ ] OOC info and introductory post
[ ♆ ] Optional future event sign-up
[ ♆ ] Umui on the Locations page
[ ♆ ] Search Requests page

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[piercetheheart]

It doesn't help that this is the first person Gladio knows that's vanished from the islands. He's never experienced that before. He doesn't know... anything and part of him wants to go march up to the temple and demand answers from Tory. The little god doesn't have those answers and somewhere he knows that but it's so hard not to ask.

He comes home late on the 13th, furious and sulking, barricading himself in his workshop for the night instead of staying with Ignis. Which probably means neither of them get much sleep. So when they finally arrive on Umui Gladio is, despite being tired and upset, going to be pushing them both immediately. It's the only way he has to deal, even with nearly 60 lbs worth of weapons strapped to his back under the basket pack he has for supplies. He's used to carrying Hyperion but like hell he's leaving the shield back at home when he has both of them to protect.

"C'mon Igs. Lets see where this memorial thing of yours is."

[want_to_belong]

It was no secret that Prompto was worn down. He didn't even like camping, but he'd been enduring it for a year. All for the sake of Noctis, who he didn't have around anymore. He was worried about not one, but at least two Noctises now, and wasn't even sure if either Noctis was the same Noctis he grew up with. Someone had met another Prompto somewhere out there, and, for how long they'd been around, he wasn't even sure where to start looking for any answers.

One of the few things he was clinging to was Ignis. Ignis had been there since anyone had first arrived. At this point he wondered in the back of his head if they were even from the same world, or if this was an Ignis from some other version of their reality, but he was about the only consistent thing in Prompto's life. That left the scrawny gunner extra protective, and he in no way was going to leave Ignis to explore some creepy island on his own.

"Ya guys think maybe we should grab what we can and head back? I don't like what I've been hearing of this place, and the islands never seem to have nice surprises." He laughed nervously. He'd been putting up with all of this, but he was weary. At least Coco was there to distract him sometimes. He couldn't leave the bird all by himself for who knew how long, and he was big enough to carry things now.

[shatteredlenses]

"Yes, that is precisely what I was thinking. We can stay as long as needed to gather supplies, but lets not tempt fate." Things have been quiet so far aside from the creepy labs and talk of the flower infection, but Ignis is quite sure it won't stay that way. If they had another ready source of building materials, he would suggest ignoring the island completely, but they don't. Wood and stone can only get them so far.

Ignis pauses for a moment to speak softly to Rory and then he launches the firebird into the air, "She will be able to lead the way better than I will." Judging his distance from Gladio by the sound of the Shield's earlier words, Ignis is pleased when his hand finds his beloved's arm so he can give it a comforting squeeze, "Shall we? It will probably take about to midday to get to the memorial. We can explore after that, stay the night and then head back with whatever we find the next day."

[piercetheheart]

They've been doing fine with wood and stone and clay but there are so many things that would be easier if they had some metal to work with. For that he'd need to make a crucible but that could be done later, once he had the workshop set up more.

"No longer than is necessary, yeah." And he'll turn his hand to twine his fingers with Ignis'. The unnerving even sweep of the flower fields meant that the trek would be more of a stroll in the park compared to hiking through rough terrain like Ziziphus was, or even Enso. "There's enough buildings that even if we get some weather it shouldn't be a problem. Camp out here for a bit and then we'll head back with as much as we can carry."

Then a nod and he's going to take point, following Rory's lead. Probably far slower than the poor firebird would like.

[want_to_belong]

He sighed, exasperated. "More camping? Why can't we just stay inside a building? We could lock it up or something."

Anything to get away from camping for a day. They'd been roughing it Gladio-style long enough. It was improving, but it was still far from any sort of civilization he was used to. "Maybe they have toilets. Real, working toilets."

He caught a glimpse of Gladio and Ignis getting close, and trotted ahead to avoid doing any staring. He was a bit of a third wheel now, but he didn't want to bother them about it. Instead, he sighed and mumbled to himself softly, "I wish Noct was here..."

Then he'd have someone to talk to while they were smooching or something. But if he could endure endless hours of Noctis fishing then he could survive this.

[shatteredlenses]

Ignis gives Gladio's hand a squeeze when it finds his, but despite Prompto's wild imaginings, for now it's not going to go beyond that. Besides, though he may be able to hear Rory's cries, he can't see her like the others. Someone is going to need to help guide him. Is it really so surprising that Gladio has jumped at the chance to fill that role?

"I have a feeling you are overestimating the condition of these buildings, Prompto. We are probably going to be lucky if they have roofs and closing doors. The monument we found was very worn. I suspect any buildings we find will be in similar states of disrepair."

Ignis pauses then, catching Prompto's soft whisper and wondering if he should comment on it or let it go. Eventually, he decides to whisper a soft reply, "We all do."

I'm sorry he's like this.

[piercetheheart]

Gladio gives Ignis' hand a squeeze in return and then flashes Prompto a scowl.

"Look if we find something that's not liable to collapse on us in the middle of the night fine but that's not a risk I'm eager to take." Especially when Iggy can't heal.

It's not spoken but it's implied. He doesn't mean to snap, he doesn't mean to make things worse but this is exactly the kind of thing that got them in trouble all those years ago. Things go to shit and instead of manning up and dealing like everyone else Prompto bitches and moans and complains and Gladio wants to punch his lights out.

He's not the only one hurting because of this, he's not the only one affected by this. Still they have responsibilities and they have to carry on. If he and Iggy can do it why should they have to stop and comfort Prompto. And Ignis' reply to that only sets him more on edge, to the point of dropping the hold he has on Ignis' hand so he can move forward, marching into the flowers and leaving them to keep up and shut up.

[want_to_belong]

On another world he knew his whining would work. Ignis, for all his stone-faced glory, would feel pity for him and Noct and take them back to a hotel.

There wasn't much in the way of options here. Ignis didn't have anywhere to take him. At the very least he complained the loudest when it wasn't that important.

He paused when he heard the heavy footsteps coming up and stepped to the side, watching after Gladio silently before waiting for Ignis to get to him, at which point he quickly fell into line next to him. Just in case Iggy needed any help.

He considered asking "What's with him?", but Iggy didn't need that drama. So he swallowed back his words and continued on slowly.

Why am *I* like this?

[shatteredlenses]

Ignis is startled when Gladio suddenly lets go of his hand and marches away. So startled, he actually stumbles and then brings himself to a halt to keep himself from falling. It's jarring to suddenly not have the grounding point of Gladio's hand while in mid-step. Even more so since he doesn't have his cane with him. When he'd come before, Rory had been his eyes and he'd discovered that the ground was fairly even. Rory was flying ahead now, but it shouldn't have been a problem with both Gladio and Prompto at his side.

Of course, it is a problem because neither of them are at his side. Gladio is how many paces ahead now, and while Prompto is closer, he is still farther away than Ignis is comfortable with. Honestly, he is feeling more alone in the dark than he has for some time, but with Gladio so on edge and Prompto so easily upset, he's loathe to show it. As a result, Ignis takes a deep breath and straightens, carefully resuming his course toward Prompto. He gets close enough to the blonde for him to turn and start to walk next to him when the inevitable happens and his left foot finds a...rock? Root? He's not sure, but whatever it is, he falls and falls hard, barely managing to keep his head from cracking on the ground. Ignis is lucky that he is wearing his gloves or else he knows his palms would be torn up. Already, his left ankle and knee are throbbing.

He ignores the pain, though, hand curling into a fist as he lifts his head in the direction Gladio has gone, "Gladiolus Amicitia! Are you a Shield or are you a five year old throwing a tantrum? Get back here!"

[piercetheheart]

The worst part is he doesn't even realize Ignis had fallen at first. The tone, though, his name biting and harsh, the accusation that he is the one in the wrong here, he's the one being childish for wanting to push ahead and get things done instead of coddling Prompto. Prompto who already distrusts him, who is uncomfortable with him, who seems to think the worst of him.

And why shouldn't he if this is what happens when he tries to simply ignore it and distance himself instead of calling them out for what they're doing, what they always do.

Because Noct is gone and he's never been here in this place with no prophecy to guide them without his King to give him some small sense of purpose. Even all the building and renovations he's been doing have been to make things easier on all of them, certainly, but most of all to give Noctis some semblance of normalcy. But no, he's not allowed to be uncertain or upset, to flounder like the rest of them without their King. He has to be fine. He has to support Ignis and shelter Prompto and endure when all he wants to do is rage against the unfairness of it all.

He stands there for a long moment, silent and shaking, angry, so angry, but he has to swallow it down, push it down into his belly until he feels sick with all the things he can't let himself feel right now. Then he turns, comes back slowly. Down to one knee beside Ignis, offering both arm and shoulder to brace against so he can help him back to his feet. It's not until Iggy is standing again that he trusts himself to speak and be able to keep all of the emotion out of his voice, empty and tight.

"Sorry."

[want_to_belong]

Prompto was much less restrained when Ignis fell.

"Iggy!" He darted over to squat next to him immediately. "I'm sorry, are you okay?"

He reached out to touch Ignis' side lightly but he wasn't sure if he should help him up or not. He could at least let him know where his hand was if he wanted him. "I'm sorry, I should've gone back to get you, I just wasn't sure if I should..."

Navigating the difficult balance between helping Ignis and not smothering him often left him confused. He worried a lot, but he didn't want to take Iggy's independence from him. Ignis had always been a fiercely autonomous person.

[shatteredlenses]

"Enough!"

Ignis doesn't raise his voice when he speaks, but the tone and intensity will be familiar to both Gladio and Prompto from outside a certain royal tomb. He might not have gotten there yet in his timeline, but it seems Ignis reacts to 'being done' in the same way nonetheless. Indeed, were he not fairly certain an attempt to stand on his own would result in his knee buckling and him becoming once more acquainted with the ground, Ignis would have pushed away both their attempts to help him and stood on his own.

Once standing, he levels a glare--unseeing as it may be--in both of their directions before continuing.

"We all are upset Noctis is gone, but this is neither the time nor the place to take it out on each other. Grief is different for each of us and we will respect our different ways of handling it. Is that understood?"

[piercetheheart]

For one bitter, spiteful moment he almost bites out a curt 'sir.'

Acknowledging the order, because that's what it is. It's an order not to be upset at Prompto's whining, not be frustrated that he doesn't know what to do. What is he supposed to do here exactly? He doesn't know if he has it in him to just ignore how much it stings that Prompto is allowed to not only be upset but get reassurances for it.

"Understood..." It's not as biting as the 'sir' would have been but it is still a very careful, martial way of responding. There's the hint of a sigh in it, though, just a little to soften it.

[want_to_belong]

He bit his lip, casting his gaze down as he cautiously stayed by Iggy to make sure he got up okay. It reminded him too much of the mines. It had always hurt to see Ignis fall, and it didn't feel better now. Iggy was too proud of a man for such humiliation.

"Sorry..." he mumbled quietly. He kept his eyes downcast in thought for a moment. At times he just wanted to run away and hide out of fear of ruining his social links, but he knew he couldn't do that. Instead, he swallowed it down, stepping forward to gently rest a hand delicately on the small of Iggy's back and take his arm to lead him so they could carry on. Of course he was willing to make any adjustments that Iggy wanted - they had been dumped unceremoniously into this position and he didn't have any particular training in leading the blind.

[shatteredlenses]

"We'll talk about this later when we aren't surrounded by the unknown. For now, please, lets act like a team...or what's left of one," Ignis is aware of the fact he's hurt them both and it tears at his heart, but this kind of thing can't be allowed right now. For all intents and purposes, they are on a hunt. Talk, argument, and whatever else needs to happen can happen once they are at camp. For now, they need to be alert and watching each others backs. While annoying, Prompto's whining is just that. It doesn't put anyone in danger. Gladio storming off and leaving a teammate whose abilities are limited? That can get someone killed.

For a moment, Ignis feels doubt bubble up inside of him. Of course, he's at fault too. No matter how much he's adapted, he's still a liability in a fight. If he is going to fault Gladio's actions, he should fault his own as well. Really, he...probably shouldn't be here no matter how much he wants to be.

"Lets get moving," his voice is soft and someone listening close might just barely pick up a shake to it. Ignis knows he can hear it and he hates it, swallowing immediately afterward and squaring his shoulders to hide the way the doubt is clawing at him, "Rory will start to think we've gotten lost somehow."